The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer (27 page)

She backed away, raising her basket in the air in front of her like a shield. "What do you want?" Her voice was suspicious.

"We need your help," Skyhammer said. "Please tell us where we are."

"Uh, the corner of-"

"No, no. What city are we in?"

The girl looked at him as though he was the village idiot. "Four Hills of course. This is Port Hill."

Skyhammer slapped his forehead with his hand. "Of course! Floatilla is gone. The King must already be at the Kingmaker Tower and Floatilla went with him. That's why I didn't recognize it, even with the clouds. The light changes everything. I couldn't smell the sea because of the rain!" He paused and turned to Mute, a puzzled expression on his face. "We were only in that place for a day, right?" He turned back to the girl. "How many days till the ceremony?"

The girl looked puzzled. "You mean how many hours? The eclipse will happen in 12 hours."

"What?" Skyhammer stared at the girl in shock. "Twelve hours?" He looked at Mute. "I thought you said it was a shortcut. We've lost about a day and a half in there."

Mute's shoulders drooped. The doors must not only transport people through space but also through time. He wondered why it was different at the Retrograph Vault. He'd never noticed a time difference there. That was something he could think about later.

Skyhammer frowned at the girl. "Could you tell us which direction the market is?" He'd never visited the small market in Port Hill before.

She lowered her basket. "I'm going there now. I could take you." She smiled shyly at Mute.

"We're probably going to run. We're sort of in a hurry." Skyhammer sighed. "Just tell us how to get there."

When the girl had finished giving them directions, Mute gave her a small peck on the cheek. She blushed.

"That means thank you, I guess," Skyhammer said. "You may have just saved the world!" He took off running and waved to the girl as they turned a corner. Mute pounded along behind him. Skyhammer started to recognize more of the streets as they went further into Four Hills.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived. The market was pretty quiet for a weekday due to the ceremony. They made their way to where animals were sold. Skyhammer thanked the gods he always carried his money in his trousers and not his backpack. He missed its comforting weight on his shoulders.

After a quick haggle with the horse master, he secured a large strong horse with two large saddlebags. As he patted the horse's gleaming shanks, he felt glad he had paid extra for a very healthy one. They had far to go but this fine horse would have no problem carrying them to the edge of the Royal Circle at least. Mute he had already sent off to buy food and water, despite the kid's complaints of sore feet.

When the boy got back, Skyhammer made a cup with his palms next to the horse.

"I'll give you a leg up."

Mute didn't move, just looked up at the horse in fear.

"You've never been on a horse, right?" Skyhammer straightened.

Mute nodded, fixated on the horse's huge mouth.

"They're gentle animals for the most part. He knows I'm the master. I'm good with horses." He stroked the horse's neck. "I promise I won't let you fall and he won't bite you. I'll tell him not to. I speak horse, you know."

Mute's eyes widened.

"Yup. Here." Skyhammer stepped up, rubbed the horse's nose and whispered in its ear. "There, I told Whale that you're a good friend of mine and never to hurt you."

"Whale?" Mute wrote.

"That's right, you're riding a horse called Whale. A whale is a kind of big fish you see but doesn't lay eggs like a fish. . ." As Skyhammer recounted a story about the horse called Whale, he lifted a calmer Mute onto the horse. Skyhammer swung up to sit in front of Mute, then they cantered away.

* * *

The sun drew abreast of the moon. The Kingmaker Tower was still quite a way off. Skyhammer and Mute had passed the Palace and were making their way along the Crystal Lines.

On their left the mountains rose straight up, their peaks ringed with cloud. Skyhammer followed a narrow path along the mountain side and on his right, the cliff dropped straight down to the Crystal Lines. Jagged bits of crystal rose up, death for anyone who fell. They saw no one else on the road, just birds and a couple of mountain goats.

Skyhammer judged it would take them a few hours to pass the Crystal Lines, then another couple of hours to get to a town on the edge of the Royal Circle. From there he planned to hire a carpet and fly to the Kingmaker Tower in time for the ceremony. He began to relax. Mute appeared to be managing all right with the riding although he would be sore when they got off the horse.

Tales of Whale the horse had entertained Mute for the first hour but then the environment became more interesting and he was happy to look at the mountains and Crystal Lines. It must be a little overwhelming for the boy, Skyhammer thought. First time out of HriHriKari and in two days he's crossed under the Deadlands and is on a horse to a Kingmaker Tower on the far side of Quasianti.

"Mute, I really appreciate your help these past few days," he said over his shoulder. "I couldn't have escaped from HriHriKari without you. Spark told me, asked me, to take care of you but I would have done it anyway."

One long, hard squeeze on his arm.

He knew it meant thank you. The boy was all alone in the world now. Like Skyhammer. He wondered how Spark and Mute had met. Spark had done her best to save the world from the Byndari. But she couldn't save herself. Skyhammer lifted one foot out of the stirrup and rotated his ankle. It hurt a little, him not having ridden in a while. He looked down at the Crystal Lines sparkling in the sun. The rain had stopped just before they reached the palace and the crystal was covered in drops of water that amplified the shine. Dangerous beauty. He remembered the curious upside down world he and Higgins had seen in the cavern a few weeks ago. Where was Higgins now? He hoped she would be waiting for him at the Tower. If not . . . he wouldn't think about that. He would imagine her waiting impatiently for him, making snide comments about how slow he was, how disorganized without her.

And she would be right, he thought with an internal chuckle. She made him a better person, made him try harder, made him want to improve himself, to be good enough for her. Because . . . his heart quivered in his chest . . . because he loved her. He watched the path ahead, looked at the mountain scrub brush, looked anywhere but inside himself where this feeling had been acknowledged. His mind danced around it, coming back, touching it briefly, then moving away again. It was so big, so overwhelming a feeling. If he let it take him over he would be sobbing right there on the horse named Whale.

Higgins had to be at the Tower. He couldn't go on without telling her how he felt. Fear and happiness roiled in his chest. He wanted to move faster, to dance and shout, and let all the energy stream out of him. Instead, he kicked Whale and the horse heaved into a gallop. Mute let out a moan and held on tighter to Skyhammer's waist.

Skyhammer grinned as they crested the top of one mountain and galloped madly across a plain to the next mountain. The Crystal Lines were disappearing from sight as they moved deeper into the mountain range.

But did she feel the same way? The horse slowed down to a canter and Mute sagged, laying his cheek against Skyhammer's back. If he considered their almost-kiss in the Deadlands a week ago, the maybe she did care for him. But wouldn't she have said something? Higgins had never stopped sleeping with the various men, or women, that they met on their travels. She had still had feelings for Polygon. Never had she given him any sign that she cared for him as more than a dear friend. And why should she, he admitted. The way he only focused on finding Spark and gaining magic power. He didn't exactly project the image of a man looking for a relationship. He shook his head and sighed. As long as she was healthy and happy, and continued Relic hunting with him, he might eventually have a chance. But could she love a sub-human, a non-magic person? Maybe being friends with him was the limit of her relationship with him. He shifted in the saddle. He wouldn't know for sure until he talked to her. The horse started galloping again but this time Skyhammer slowed it down. He needed to save Whale's energy for the long ride ahead. He needed a clear mind.

Up and down the sides of mountains they climbed, the range stretching endlessly in front of them. And then. They crested the top of a particularly high mountain and looked out across the range. Mute shook Skyhammer's arm.

"I know, I see it too," Skyhammer murmured.

Floatilla. Mute couldn't seem to take his eyes off the floating city, which hung darkly in the sky.

"Most humans live in Floatilla," Skyhammer explained as they rode. "It's a floating city, held up by the collective magic powers of the King's Magician and the residents." His voice trailed off. It hit him again - if he didn't stop the ceremony, all the people in the city would fall onto the teeth of the planet and die. Skyhammer slapped Whale's rump and the horse leapt into a gallop. The ceremony could not be allowed to happen. Once he told the King the real purpose of the ceremony, the King stop the procedure. Skyhammer just had to reach him in time.

The moon's rim approached the sun. In another two hours, Skyhammer judged, the moon would fully eclipse the sun and the ceremony would begin. He had to make it to the edge of the Royal Circle and get on a magic carpet.

They galloped wildly up and down the mountains until they were in Floatilla's shadow. They had seen a few paths leading off to small towns in the valleys between the mountains but until now had not stopped.

CHESHIRE the sign proclaimed, with an arrow pointing west. Skyhammer directed Whale along it. He was certain they were inside the Royal Circle now. Which reminded him, he'd better get Mute set up with a slate when they got home. Where was home? Higgins would love Mute. They could do magic together. If Skyhammer could stop the ceremony in time.

The moon edged onto the sun's disc as they rode up the main street of the town. The front porches and shops were devoid of people. Silence had settled over the place. If he couldn't find someone to spell a carpet for them, then they would never reach the Tower in time. He needed a human who could do magic. And was willing to help them. Which might be the more difficult of the two, he admitted.

"Howdy strangers!" a voice called from the right side of the street. "You're going to be late for the ceremony at that rate!"

Skyhammer couldn't see the speaker. He lifted Mute down off the horse where the boy collapsed onto the grass, rubbing his legs. Skyhammer went up the front steps of the house he thought the voice had come from. A chair rocked in the corner of the porch, a human shape visible under a blanket, a curled-up cat in the lap.

"Are you planning on switching to a carpet now, young man?" The voice did come from the chair and at first Skyhammer thought it was the cat speaking.

Then a head poked up above the blanket. "Well?" Tufts of hair protruded from the old man's nostrils and ears. Bright eyes twinkled in a worn face.

"We're looking for a carpet, sir. Do you have one we could borrow?" Skyhammer asked.

"Nope. All out of carpets, I'm afraid. Every last one was taken by the good townsfolk here. Help yourself to a blanket or something equivalent though. Got one in our bedroom upstairs in fact."

Mute sat on the steps below and rested his head against the banister.

Skyhammer shifted from foot to foot. "Sir, neither of us can do magic. Would you be willing to spell the blanket for us to get us to the Tower as fast as possible? I am the Keeper of the Retrograph Vault and I have important news for the King about the ceremony."

The old man laughed loud and long.

"Can't do magic?" he spluttered when he could talk. "Neither of you? You're Skyhammer then. This must be your son. My eyesight is not what it was. But I'm afraid I can't help you. My slate broke yesterday and no one had time to fix it as they were all going to the ceremony." He stopped chuckling. "And there is no one but me left in town. You'll have to get back on your horse and start riding. Maybe you'll get there by midnight."

Skyhammer slumped into a wicker chair on the porch. "No. I have to get there before the full eclipse!" He put his head in his hands and closed his eyes.

A light touch on his trouser leg. He opened his eyes. Mute had come to sit beside him, leaning against his legs. He patted Skyhammer's knee and watched him, love and concern in his eyes. Skyhammer sighed. He had truly failed. The ceremony would continue and everyone in Floatilla would crash to their deaths. But he had to try.

He stood up. "The only thing to do is get back on the horse," he said heavily. A thought occurred to him. "Is there another town near here?"

The old man shook his head. "We're the last town before the Tower. You'd better get riding, boy. You got far to go!" He cackled as they walked down the steps and back to Whale who was munching on the grass.

Skyhammer put both his hands on Mute's shoulders. "Mute, you know I have to get to the ceremony before it starts. It would be easier," he paused and swallowed, "easier if it was just me on Whale. We can go faster without your extra weight."

Mute shook his head, faster and faster and then wrenched himself away from Skyhammer. Chalk screeched across his writing board. "Not staying here without you. Will drag behind holding Whale's tail. Will not let you go!" He threw the chalk on the ground and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at Skyhammer.

"Fine, fine," Skyhammer said, hands open in appeal. He didn't know how to deal with a tantrum. "Let's go."

When they both sat atop the horse, they headed out of town without further words to the old man. Skyhammer looked at the path that wound its way up the side of the mountain and took a deep breath. A tired horse, an aggrieved boy and a failure crossing the valley, too late. All he could do was keep on keeping on.

The moon crept across the sun's face.

"Skyhammer!" The shout fell from high above them.